Lecture Notes: Nov. 27

Econ. 103, Fall 2002, Prof. Nancy Folbre

  
Let’s start with a review of Chapter 13, via some multiple choice exercises.

Competition should eliminate discrimination because:

a. good companies always win out over bad companies
b. companies who discriminate will be boycotted by consumers
c. companies who don't discriminate will have higher worker morale
d. companies who don't discriminate should be able to hire workers of equal productivity for a lower wage and therefore earn higher profits

The correct answer is d.

When a market has only a single buyer it is a ___________:

a. monopoly
b. monopolistic competitor
c. customer
d. monopsony
e. monopsonistic competitor

The correct answer is d.

In "winner-take-all" markets,

a. there is only one available worker
b. small differences in human capital translate into large pay differences
c. high wages are given to the worker with the highest marginal productivity
d. the most competitive firm hires all qualified workers
e. wages are lower than in other markets

The correct answer is b.

Chief executive officers are paid on average about 1000 times what ordinary workers are paid because

a. they operate in winner-take-all markets
b. their compensation is set by corporate boards who have a personal stake in setting high CEO salaries
c. the value of their leadership is difficult to measure
d. many of them have MBAs and years of experience
e. all of the above

The correct answer is e.

The textbook emphasizes point a. I believe that point b is more important.

If a job pays a higher wage because it requires the worker to work in unpleasant working conditions, the worker is receiving

a. workers compensation 
b. a wage premium
 
c. a fringe benefit
 
d. a compensating wage differential
 
e. what they deserve

The correct answer is d.

 

Chapter 14 provides an overview of the following public policy issues:

how to deal with "natural monopolies"

how to price publicly provided services

how best to provide health insurance

how best to discourage pollution

I will cover the first two of these issues today, focusing on the following Powerpoint slides:

14-3

14-4

14-6

14-9

14-11